For most of us, April 15th is Tax Day, and that can mean Anxiety Day, Frustration Day, Anger Day or, for the fortunate few, Relief Day. What the day brings is all about what's happening right now, although what we bring to April 15th is largely related to the past.
Maybe it's strange to wax philosophical about this, the most mundane of days. But, Tax Day marks the flow of time for many of us. After all, we reconcile the past year while preparing tax returns, and then come straight into the here and now as we file them. And, funnily enough, that acute awareness of this day is the essence of mindful experience.
Paying attention to the present moment is both the process and outcome of mindfulness. The idea is to tune into what's happening in and around us, as our unique experiences unfold. Research shows that taking a few moments to focus on your own awareness reduces stress and can help quiet the brain's constant chatter. In addition, common sense makes clear that developing mindfulness enhances resilience, focus and emotional balance in the long-term.
But, enough of the future. It's Tax Day and cultivating mindfulness can help you stay right here, right now (even if you don't really want to). Here are some suggestions to show you how:
- Whatever you're doing right now, just pause and take a breath. Feel how that breath goes in and out of your body. Just shift your attention to breathing and grow your awareness of this incredibly familiar yet often unnoticed sensation. Then, purposefully go back to whatever you were doing or are going to do next, including reading this article, answering your cell phone or speaking with someone. Whatever. Just make the shift to the next activity, consciously.
- If you're done with your taxes, that's awesome. Take another breath. Now, notice your emotions without judging them. Perhaps you feel worried and/or unhappy. Or, possibly you're just immensely satisfied that you got everything done and/or feel delighted with the outcome. Just feel, and then, remind yourself that these feelings (like all feelings) change over time. Next, focus your attention on your body. Are you exhausted, or totally wired, or what? You don't need to do anything about physical sensations, just recognize them. The sensations of the body, like emotions, are just types of feelings. They come and go, while your awareness moves through them.
- If you're not done with your taxes, take stock in that reality. So, you're not done. Okay. Breathe -- what else can you do? Breathe some more. Keep working. It's pretty basic, either you're finished or you're not, and there's no need for extra drama. It is what it is. And that means it's a good idea to pause, again, and take another breath.
- For those of us who still use snail mail to file our returns, Tax Day is a prime opportunity to notice what's happening with other people. So, there you are, waiting in that inevitable line while the post-person does postal magic and produces that precious piece of paper confirming that the deadline was met. Take a few seconds to sense the energy around you, and then look within yourself. Regardless of your own state of mind, it's helpful to ponder whether you feel a little like a sponge. Are you absorbing the energy of the people around you? Are they agitated or calm, irritable or jovial? Use mindfulness to help you tell the difference between their experience and yours. Then, use your mindfulness skills to maintain healthy boundaries.
The way I see it, Tax Day is like the pivot point of a seesaw. The last tax year has just gone down, and there's a whole new year way up there, in the air, with twelve more months before April 15, 2012. This is a special space.
While you're there, see if you can catch the very ordinary, yet spectacular feeling of limbo when your seesaw hangs in balance. You might feel free, or tired, or anything (and everything) else all at once. This is a fabulous opportunity to focus your awareness and attention in the present and see what's in- or on- or of- your mind.
And, breathe.